External Backup Programs 
Use
The SAP tools
BRBACKUP, BRARCHIVE, and BRRESTORE provide an interface called BACKINT that can be used to access external backup programs. You can only use this interface if the BACKINT interface program is supported by the supplier of the external backup program.
Features
By using external backup programs you gain the following advantages:
- You can use new, manufacturer-specific backup media. For example, the SAP tools do not support direct backup to or restore from optical storage media. However, you can use such media with an external backup program using the BACKINT interface.
- You can set up a consistent backup procedure for file systems and databases.
- Many backup programs are not hardware-specific and can be used in a network, for example, for
backup with an automatic tape changer.
Activities
If you use this interface, tasks are distributed as follows:
The graphic shows that:
- BRBACKUP or BRARCHIVE does the database handling.
- The external backup program manages the backup media.
- BRBACKUP or BRARCHIVE uses BACKINT to pass a backup request to the external backup program. This request contains a list of the files for backup. BRRESTORE also uses BACKINT to trigger the external program to restore the requested files.
Any parameters that are passed are contained in a parameter file that you define. The external backup program performs all the backup operations.
- BRBACKUP, BRARCHIVE, or BRRESTORE evaluates the confirmation messages of the external backup program.
Use the following settings in the
initialization profile init<DBSID>.sap:
backup_dev_type = util_file|util_file_online
Parameter file, for example:
util_par_file = initC11.utl
For more information, see
backup_dev_type and util_par_file.
For more information about SAP partners that support the interface to external backup programs, see:
http://service.sap.com/partners